Welcome to Alabama Basketball! I understand that many of you are going to be new this year, and that’s fine. There’s plenty of room on the bandwagon for a fanbase that has been crying out for a consistently elite program most of my life.
Well, we’re here. We have one now. And we at RBR are glad to have new folks aboard.
We’re now about 40 days from the start of the 2024-2025 Alabama Basketball season, one where the Tide will enter as the No. 1 or 2 team in the preseason, largely on the back of its complete roster and some serious depth.
RBR has previously covered all of the new guys, and if you missed any of those, I’ve linked it below. There are a lot of new faces, with new skills to offer. May as well learn them now.
But who exactly is the Tide returning from last year’s first-ever Final Four run? Good question. Fortunately, we have the answers for you.
Mark Sears, Point Guard
The Tide’s all-time single-season scoring leader, the All-SEC / All-American performer returns after flirting with the NBA to lead ‘Bama to its “unfinished goals,” as well as work on his ball distribution while cutting down his turnovers. A great season, with a more polished game, can turn the scrappy undersized Sears into a late first-rounder…and just maybe cut down the nets.
It’s impossible to hate this kid. The scoring and heart and toughness are there; the rest of the point guard skillset needs to be honed for him to reach his maximum potential…and his market value.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Shooting Guard
Trelly was one of two pure perimeter shooters on ‘Bama’s bench last season. He started about a third of the Tide’s games, and was known for his scoring more than his other skills. He may have averaged “just” 9 points a game, but he played over two dozen and hit DD in 10 of his 12 starts on limited minutes (23 MPG).
Given the Tide’s rotation, his playing time was often determined by the opponent — when the Tide went big, Rylan got the start; when ‘Bama played its small three-guard ball, Wrightsell got the nod. Shooting 44.7% from beyond the arc, this is ‘Bama’s most accurate returning scorer from the arc. He is 5th all-time in ‘Bama single season three-point accuracy, and along with Sears, is ‘Bama’s best free throw shooter.
Grant Nelson, Point Forward
Nelson is an interesting player. He’s a scorer who often did not get nearly enough credit for his defense and rebounding. He was the utility man that could move between the post and the arc. He can play the 3 and 4, and often was asked to man the blocks. He scored 12 PPG, hauled in 6 board, and had 1.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. He led the Tide in rebounding, and was 15th in the SEC in RPG. He quietly had the SEC’s 4th most blocks, and led the team with 60.
It took the ‘Stache a while to find his footing against larger, more athletic players in the Power 5, but he was capable of having some outstanding games, and even taking them over when the situation demanded. His play against UNC forever earned Grant a cult following with the fanbase.
Mouhamed Dioubate (Little Mo), Power Forward
Four-star PF Mo Dioubate was pressed into service last year perhaps a year sooner than he was ready for. At just 215, the New Jersey prep star was thinner than most of his competitors and had to learn to play with leverage instead of brute strength. As the season progressed, however, Mo started to find his way…and his minutes increased accordingly. Playing alongside Big Mo and ‘Stache, he was part of the Tide’s makeshift attempt to fill a glaring hole at center. He hit double-digits in two crucial SEC games, and earned a hard hat award in a must-win contest at Mississippi State. He’s an agile, slithering rebounder, can put the ball on the floor, and has good instincts in the post for a “smaller” PF (6’8”). Paired beside the Tide’s actual centers this season, he should improve now that he is freed from having to play out of position.
Jarin Stevenson, Forward / Power Forward
Stevenson is a beast-to-be. Like Football’s Ryan Williams, Stevenson is a reclassified player and last season he was lighting it up in the NCAA Tournament at a time when his classmates were going to prom. The 5-star, No. 1 ranked Forward in his class chose ‘Bama over UNC — a major recruiting coup for Coach Oats, since Stevenson is from Chapel Hill. As with so many other new and young guys last year, it took Stevenson a while to adjust to the brutal learning curve of the SEC. Importantly, it took him time to grow into his body and learn his place in the system.
But the athletic creds were evident from Day One, and he played in every game last season. Stevenson moves well without the basketball, has a fantastic perimeter stroke from the baseline, follows up misses very well, and has the size to contest shots inside. The scariest part is how he runs the floor for a 6’11” player. He briefly entered the NBA draft this season, and his athleticism will almost certainly get him drafted next Summer. Enjoy him while you’ve got him: Jarin will be in the pros next year. With a breakout year, he could be Noah Clowney 2.0.
So, those are the old heads, the Tide’s returning veterans. This team has a mix of grad players, midmajor transfers, freshman dynamos, leaders, athletes, and depth at every position in a roster that is now composed to beat every style of play it faces. And, despite how brutal the schedule is this season, it’s shaping up to be a special one.
Glad you’re along for the ride.
Roll Tide
